Baquerfo seeks reversal of suspension

TUDELA Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo, Sr. yesterday sought a reconsideration of the Sandiganbayan order putting him in a 90-day preventive suspension for a graft and corruption case about his alleged unauthorized turnover of a waterworks system in barangay Puertobello.

Baquerfo, through his lawyer Noel Archival, raised before the Sandiganbayan three issues on why its July 11 order should be reconsidered. He said that the case for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against him is without legal basis.

Baquerfo also contended that his act of transferring the management and the operational control of Puertobello Waterworks System to the barangay was not motivated by “manifest partiality and bad faith”, contrary to the claim of Demetrio Granada, a political rival.

The water system was already serving the people of the barangay even before its management and operation were transferred from Tudela municipal government to Puertobello barangay officials, said Baquerfo.

“For this reason, no fraud, manifest partiality and evident bad faith can be attributed upon (me),” said Baquerfo in his five-page motion for reconsideration.

Baquerfo further said that the transfer has no conveyance of title and ownership of the waterworks system that could have caused injury to any party, including the government.

The reason for turning over the management and operation of the waterworks system was to “hasten the delivery of water services to its beneficiaries at Barangay Puertobello,” he said.

The anti-graft court earlier put Baquerfo in preventive suspension, pending the resolution of the graft and corruption case he is now facing.

The fifth division of the Sandiganbayan, which is holding its hearings in Cebu this week, has given the Department of Interior and Local Government five days upon receipt to implement the order.

Meanwhile, the prosecution has concluded yesterday its presentation of evidence against Baquerfo.

Tudela Municipal Council secretary Sosthenes Estrera was presented as the prosecution’s last witness to testify that there was no council resolution authorizing Baquerfo at the time he turned over the system to the barangay in 2004. — Fred P. Languido/RAE